February 5th, 2007
Lapworks: For when big, bulky, and ugly simply won't do
I was just noticing that Dan Ackerman in our sister group over at CNET Reviews has coverage of the Xpad Laptop Desk (pictured left). It only takes one or two tries before you'll be convinced of the value of a laptop desk in the genre of the one Ackerman tried. I've cooked one too many a thigh muscle with an incredibly hot notebook (especially one of the earlier PowerBooks) to not appreciate what it's like to actually have something between the bottom of the notebook and the top of your legs that keeps you nice and cool. Not only that, it's better for the notebook too. If air can move more freely around the notebook's bottom, then chances are it won't get nearly as hot as it will when it's pressed up against your thighs.
I trust Ackerman when he says the Xpad is too big, bulky and ugly. His bottom line in fact was that "The massive Xpad laptop desk isn't going to turn any heads with its utilitarian look, but it can definitely cool down an overheated laptop." So, what if you're looking for the right product? One that's super lightweight and that you can usually find room for in your shoulder bag? A long time ago (back in 2002 to be exact), I discovered a little company called Lapworks that makes the Laptop Desk.
Version 1.0 is pictured to above and it's the version I have and I swear by it. It even has a little mousepad off to the side if you prefer to use a mouse. It has two orientations (both shown above): one that folds flat out (pictured on top) and the other where it's partially folded with a support holding up one side of the clamshell (works well in a cramped airplane seat where the seat in front of you is reclined so far back that you can't adjust your notebook's lid to a viewable angle). In either case, there are channels for the heat that keep your legs from feeling like there's a frying pan sitting on top of them and it only costs $25.00. There are other models as well but, to be honest, version 1.0 has been tough to improve on.
